Beyoncé At Coachella, Whitney Houston At Super Bowl XXV, And 18 More Of The Best Live Show Performances
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First off, there's rarely a live performance with Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, or Prince that isn't considered iconic.
But there are only a few that I consider the greatest. Here are 20 performances that set a new standard for live shows everywhere.
Each of these performances was a pivotal moment for music or the culture — showcasing immeasurable talent or igniting a larger social conversation.
20.In 1999, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey performed "When You Believe" at the 71st Academy Awards.
The world wanted to pit Whitney and Mariah against each other. In an interview with Oprah, the singers squashed the drama and debuted one of the greatest soundtrack tunes of our time, "When You Believe." The pair performed the Babyface-produced song several times. However, the best rendition was during the 71st Academy Awards on March 21.
And here is the performance:
19.In 2016, Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar performed "Freedom" at the 16th BET Awards.
On June 26, two of the most celebrated artists in Black entertainment came together, channeling all the energy from their ancestors during the BET Awards. When Beyoncé and Kendrick started kicking water into the air with flames burning behind them, I was ready for a revolution. These culturally aware artists revolutionize what live performances look like with every appearance.
And here is the performance:
18.In 1991, Whitney Houston performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV.
On Jan. 27, Whitney opened Super Bowl XXV with arguably the best national anthem ever sung. She captivated the world with her appearance. Not wearing a sparkling gown, Whitney instead stepped onto the field in sweats and a headband and took our breath away. I think it's one of the most recognized renditions of "The Star-Spangled Banner," and I'm sure it'll stay that way forever.
And here is the performance:
17.In 2015, Aretha Franklin performed "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" at the 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors.
Aretha Franklin is the GOAT. It's easy to pick my favorite of her performances because it speaks to her journey, her accomplishments, and the battles she fought. On Dec. 29, at the 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors, Aretha serenaded honorees Seiji Ozawa, Rita Moreno, Carole King, George Lucas, and Cicely Tyson. The best part was that then–president and first lady Barack and Michelle Obama were there. I watched Aretha and Cicely, champions of an era when America denied Black people their rights, celebrating with the first Black president. I'm brought to tears every time I watch this performance and see Carole's expression of extreme joy.
And here is the performance:
16.In 2006, Three 6 Mafia and Taraji P. Henson performed “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” at the 78th Academy Awards.
On March 5, Three 6 Mafia shocked the world when they took home Best Original Song at the 78th Academy Awards. After years of power ballads and classical compositions consistently winning, one of my generation's most iconic rap groups was on the map for the theme song "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from Hustle & Flow, starring Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson. The best part of the night was that they had just performed the song with Taraji right before they won the award.
And here is the moment they won the Oscar:
15.In 1995, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, DJ Quik, and Death Row Records performed a medley at the Source Awards.
The 1995 Source Awards are a pivotal moment in hip-hop history. The night was the best example of East Coast–West Coast beef in the '90s. I'll never forget the moment Suge Knight grabbed the mic and said, "Any artist out there that wanna be an artist, stay a star, and won't have to worry about the executive producer trying to be all in the videos, all on the records, dancing — come to Death Row!" But the beef didn't stop Death Row Records from performing in front of a rowdy crowd that wasn't there for them 100%.
And here is the performance:
14.In 2019, Missy Elliott performed a medley at the 36th MTV Video Music Awards.
On Aug. 26, Missy Elliott received the well-deserved Video Vanguard Award at the 2019 MTV VMAs. She celebrated the honor with a showstopping medley of her most memorable songs, including "Work It," "Lose Control," "Gossip Folks," and "Get Ur Freak On." Missy rarely performed for years, so when she hit the stage, she reminded the world that she remains one of the most innovative artists. She used every inch of the stage to take us back through her entire catalog.
And here is the performance:
13.In 1995, the Notorious B.I.G. performed "Warning" at the KMEL Summer Jam.
I love a good hip-hop performance, but except for Kendrick Lamar, the artists always seem to lack the production values of artists like Beyoncé or Michael Jackson. On Aug. 11, the Notorious B.I.G. performed during KMEL Summer Jam at Shoreline Amphitheatre and convinced me that you don't always need a bunch of bells and whistles to tell a good story. I have an extreme love for the West Coast, but I also believe Brooklyn's Biggie Smalls is one of the greatest rappers of our time.
And here is the performance:
12.In 2012, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg headlined the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg's performance at the 2012 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival had people talking for months. Although it was rare for hip-hop artists to headline, the even more rare appearance of the Tupac hologram really set things off. The hologram was a preview of technology that would be used in future performances of musicians no longer with us. I believe this show set a new standard for hip-hop performances.
And here is the performance:
11.In 1982, Jennifer Holliday & Co. performed "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls at the 36th Annual Tony Awards.
On June 6, at the 36th Annual Tony Awards, the cast of Dreamgirls, including Sheryl Lee Ralph and Loretta Devine, performed the show's most popular numbers, "It's All Over" and "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going." Jennifer Holliday's original Tony and Academy Award–winning rendition became a milestone in the theater world and made way for the modern Jennifer Hudson performance. I feel like the Tony Awards don't get the same recognition as other awards shows, so this groundbreaking performance is a great entry point for new fans.
And here is the performance:
10.Jennifer Hudson on any season of The Voice. Period.
I will never get over the fact that Jennifer Hudson was sent home in seventh place on American Idol. The EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) winner captivates audiences on every stage, performs some of the best tributes to the world's greatest singers, and consistently gives us hilarious television. She is a prime example of not letting a single experience define you. Out of R-E-S-P-E-C-T, I'm not going to choose one live performance by JHud, but instead, her best moments on The Voice. I think everything she represents on this show is a testament to how far she has come and how much she's accomplished.
And here is a highlight of her greatest moments on The Voice:
9.In 1987, Michael Jackson performed a medley at the 30th Annual Grammy Awards.
It was common knowledge by then that Michael Jackson was a worldwide superstar, but this performance catapulted him into the Hall of Fame for live performance greats with a medley of his latest hits. On March 2, the Grammys gave us unforgettable performances from artists like Whitney Houston, Celia Cruz, Run-DMC, Randy Travis, Lou Reed, and one of the show's best hosts, Billy Crystal. Michael really turned Radio City Music Hall out that year and solidified the "King of Pop" moniker.
And here is the performance:
8.In 2016, Beyoncé performed a Lemonade medley at the 33rd MTV Video Music Awards.
As a member of the Beyhive, I'm proud to say this is probably one of the greatest awards show performances in television history. On Aug. 28, Beyoncé showed the world why she deserves to be the Grammys' most-awarded artist by performing a medley of songs from Lemonade, including "Pray You Catch Me," "Sorry," and "Formation." That evening, Beyoncé took over the entire awards ceremony with her groundbreaking album that left everyone shocked by her artistry.
Watch the performance here.
7.In 2016, Kendrick Lamar performed "The Blacker the Berry" and "Alright" at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.
Make no mistake: Kendrick Lamar is one of the greatest hip-hop performers of our lifetime. On Feb. 15 at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, he took to the stage in one of the most socially charged performances, depicting the plight of a Black man against American law. "The Blacker the Berry," followed by "Alright," was such a powerful performance because it showed why the music became synonymous with "Black Lives Matter" and the rise of activism in 2020. This album won Kendrick five Grammys that night.
And here is the performance.
6.In 1969, Jimi Hendrix closed out the Woodstock Music and Art Fair.
On Aug. 18, the legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix performed a set for nearly two uninterrupted hours at the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair. It was one of the most anticipated performances, but the crowd at the early-morning set had dwindled because it was a Monday. All of the fans who decided to stick around witnessed the show of a lifetime. Jimi and his band, Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, successfully closed out the festival. This was the performance that included the unbelievable solo of "The Star-Spangled Banner" that became synonymous with Woodstock and the vibe of the 1960s.
And here is the performance:
5.In 1994, Whitney Houston performed a medley of "I Loves You, Porgy/And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going/I Have Nothing" at the 21st Annual American Music Awards.
On Feb. 7 at the 21st Annual American Music Awards, Whitney took home eight awards. At this point in her career, nobody questioned the fact that she was the epitome of vocal talent, range, and versatility. When she performed an arrangement of three of the most vocally challenging songs that night, it became apparent that her title, "the Voice," wasn't going anywhere. Whitney sang a medley of “I Loves You, Porgy," “And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going,” and her hit song “I Have Nothing," and I'm sure tears of joy ran down everyone's faces like the sweat on her brow. This performance needed nothing but Whitney, the band, and a microphone.
And here is the performance:
4.In 1993, Michael Jackson performed during the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show.
On Jan. 3, after so many awkward Super Bowl halftime shows, like the one with Disney and New Kids on the Block in 1991, it looked pretty grim for future performances. But Michael Jackson set the standard that artists like Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Lady Gaga strived to reach. From start to finish, Michael put on a solo performance that rivaled his own tours in a fraction of the time. As a little kid, I enjoyed the awkward Disney halftime show, but my mind was blown away by Michael's performance. I will never forget how many people were on the field. It was unbelievable.
And here is the performance:
3.In 1968, James Brown performed at the Boston Garden the day after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.
It was the day after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and America braced itself for another day of unrest. On April 5, James Brown took control of the devastated crowd at the Boston Garden and brought everyone together for a performance that I consider an integral part of Black culture and American history. Boston feared that whether the concert was canceled or allowed to continue, the result would be mayhem either way. So James, an artist who was well known for being anything but calm or quiet, flipped the switch and used his music that had once ignited rebellion to create a moment that brought people together. There's a reason he's truly the Godfather of Soul.
And here is the performance:
2.In 2007, Prince performed during the Super Bowl XLI halftime show.
On Feb. 4, the world witnessed one of the greatest live performances. The Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears took a break for an entire Prince concert. All the elements came together in Miami Gardens, producing one of the best atmospheres. The pouring rain did nothing to stop Prince from putting on the solo performance that highlighted not only his biggest hits but also songs from other artists, including "We Will Rock You," "Let's Go Crazy," "Baby I'm a Star," "Proud Mary," "All Along the Watchtower," and "Best of You."
And here is the performance:
1.In 2018, Beyoncé headlined the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
In April, after her pregnancy forced her to reschedule, Beyoncé returned for two weekends at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Fields. She themed the show after HBCU marching bands and Black Greek life, switching between millennial pink and Gen Z yellow for the two weekends. The set chronicled her greatest hits, from her debut solo album and early collaborations with Jay-Z to Lemonade and the epic reunion of Destiny's Child. The show was so incredible, it's one of the few Coachella performances professionally filmed and distributed for streaming on Netflix.
And here is the performance:
What are your favorite live performances? Let me know in the comments!
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